PRINTER'S NO.  1817

  

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

  

HOUSE RESOLUTION

 

No.

281

Session of

2011

  

  

INTRODUCED BY PRESTON, KIRKLAND, JOHNSON, MYERS, PAYTON, BISHOP AND WILLIAMS, MAY 10, 2011

  

  

INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35, MAY 10, 2011  

  

  

  

A RESOLUTION

  

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Recognizing the achievements of the late Fannetta Nelson Gordon

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and her exemplary record of service on behalf of Alpha Kappa

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Alpha Sorority, Inc.

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WHEREAS, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Legislative Day is

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being observed in the Capitol on May 10, 2011; and

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WHEREAS, Fannetta Nelson Gordon, who died in 2008 at 88 years

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of age, exemplified the finest virtues of human experience as a

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musician, educator and sorority leader; and

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WHEREAS, Ms. Gordon joined Iota Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha

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Sorority as a student at the University of Pittsburgh and later

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served as graduate advisor to the chapter as a member of Alpha

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Omega Chapter in Pittsburgh; and

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WHEREAS, Ms. Gordon was a president of Epsilon Sigma Omega

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Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority in Harrisburg and graduate

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advisor to Iota Chi Chapter at Millersville University and Delta

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Gamma Chapter at The Pennsylvania State University; and

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WHEREAS, An accomplished pianist, Ms. Gordon toured with the

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National Negro Opera Company, played with W.C. Handy and

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accompanied Leontyne Price during Ms. Price's first performance

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at Forbes Field; and

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WHEREAS, Ms. Gordon was fluent in French and German and

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taught English and German in the Pittsburgh Public Schools for

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many years; and

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WHEREAS, Governor Raymond P. Shafer appointed Ms. Gordon to

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the State Board of Education in 1969; and

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WHEREAS, Ms. Gordon served 13 years as senior advisor for

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bilingual education in the Department of Education; and

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WHEREAS, The Westinghouse High School Alumni Association has

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posthumously recognized Ms. Gordon as valedictorian of

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Westinghouse High School in Pittsburgh; and

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WHEREAS, Ms. Gordon's sister, Sophia Phillips Nelson, had

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earned recognition as Westinghouse High School's first African-

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American valedictorian in 1934; and

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WHEREAS, A music teacher changed Ms. Gordon's final grade

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from an A to a B to keep her from attaining valedictorian status

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at her 1936 graduation; and

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WHEREAS, Ms. Gordon went on to receive a bachelor of arts

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degree and master of education degree from the University of

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Pittsburgh and master of arts degrees from the University of

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Washington and Franklin and Marshall College; therefore be it

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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize the

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achievements of the late Fannetta Nelson Gordon and her

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exemplary record of service on behalf of Alpha Kappa Alpha

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Sorority, Inc.

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